Last night, Celeste and I attended the ordinations of Peter Doddema, Jean McGraw, and Dominic Moore. They were ordained to the priesthood at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, on what was the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle.
The ordinations were wonderful, as they often are. Like weddings and baptisms, there is something deeply remarkable about rituals that mark big transitions in our lives or the lives of our friends and family. Seeing a person stand before God and make a serious commitment to a new way of life can cause us to reflect on our own lives, our own commitments, and how we are doing with our own hopes and dreams.
This ordination was particularly meaningful to me. In part because Dominic is a dear friend of mine from seminary, and Peter and Jean have become friends. In part, because I was honored to share the ministry of chanting the Litany for Ordinations and leading the congregation in prayer. This ordination was meaningful for me mostly, I think, because it was a year and a day after my own priestly ordination. This made it a sort of anniversary for me.
So I've been a priest now for a year. It's mostly been what I expected it to be. There have been some surprises, and a handful of real challenges. I expected to be surprised and challenged, so, I guess, it was less surprising and challenging than it could have been. For the most part I have been blessed to be in the presence of so much good work that God is doing. I have sat with people in their joy and in their suffering. I have learned a little about when to give advice and when to keep my mouth closed and let God's voice be heard. I have seen the church grow, as the wonderful things we are doing at St. Mary's are beginning to draw people to discover our faith and our community.
What has meant the most to me in this first year is the great gift of leading the community in the celebration of the sacraments, most especially baptism and the Eucharist. To stand at the intersection between the lives of the faithful and the mighty, loving work of God... It's a blessing. And I give thanks every day that I, unworthy sinner that I am, am given this grace.
May God continue the good work begun in Peter, Jean, and Dominic, and may they be a blessing to the church that has called them. May God continue the good work begun in each of our lives, and bless and guide us in the year to come.
Faithfully,
-Chris+
The ordinations were wonderful, as they often are. Like weddings and baptisms, there is something deeply remarkable about rituals that mark big transitions in our lives or the lives of our friends and family. Seeing a person stand before God and make a serious commitment to a new way of life can cause us to reflect on our own lives, our own commitments, and how we are doing with our own hopes and dreams.
This ordination was particularly meaningful to me. In part because Dominic is a dear friend of mine from seminary, and Peter and Jean have become friends. In part, because I was honored to share the ministry of chanting the Litany for Ordinations and leading the congregation in prayer. This ordination was meaningful for me mostly, I think, because it was a year and a day after my own priestly ordination. This made it a sort of anniversary for me.
So I've been a priest now for a year. It's mostly been what I expected it to be. There have been some surprises, and a handful of real challenges. I expected to be surprised and challenged, so, I guess, it was less surprising and challenging than it could have been. For the most part I have been blessed to be in the presence of so much good work that God is doing. I have sat with people in their joy and in their suffering. I have learned a little about when to give advice and when to keep my mouth closed and let God's voice be heard. I have seen the church grow, as the wonderful things we are doing at St. Mary's are beginning to draw people to discover our faith and our community.
What has meant the most to me in this first year is the great gift of leading the community in the celebration of the sacraments, most especially baptism and the Eucharist. To stand at the intersection between the lives of the faithful and the mighty, loving work of God... It's a blessing. And I give thanks every day that I, unworthy sinner that I am, am given this grace.
May God continue the good work begun in Peter, Jean, and Dominic, and may they be a blessing to the church that has called them. May God continue the good work begun in each of our lives, and bless and guide us in the year to come.
Faithfully,
-Chris+
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